The Warhead Cable Test Dilemma

Question 1 According to Kohlberg's moral development theory, Stanton Wong moral development should be at post-conventional level, where it is believed that caring for other is everyone's obligation. It is because he is concerning with the well being of the innocent civilians and the military personnel if a faulty missile misfired. Beside that, he also thinking a method of solving the problem so that everyone is cared for equally and nobody will harmed by the faulty cable. For Harry Jackson, he stage of moral development is at the pre-conventional level. At this level, self-interest is emphasized and values are adhered to in order to avoid punishment and also be rewarded. It can be proved by his intentionally to ignore the result of the product test and do not take action to correct the problem. It is because he does not think of the well being of the civilians and military personnel because he more worries about getting punishment from higher up if the warhead cable cant be deliver on time to the customer. From here we can see that he emphasis on his self-interest more than the values of other people. Question 2 I think Stanton Wong should report the test result to the customer's source inspector, Jane Conway first and ask Jane to perform additional sample testing. I think it can help to convince Harry Jackson to stop the cable for shipping out for the customer if Jane found out there is a problem occurred on the cable. If Harry still refuse to solve the problem, then Stanton should report the case to the top management who have the power to change Harry's decision. One of the ethical reasoning is logic, it means before we can conclude or make a judgement , we have to ensure that premise, either factual or inferred, are know and clear. In this case, I think it is logical for Stanton to report the problem to authorities if the faulty items could harm innocence and also because he cares about the civilians and armed forces. Accuracy is one of the ethical reasoning, it means whatever evidence cited to support our judgement should be accurate, relevant, and complete. So, before he reports to top management, he should ask the source inspector to run additional test to ensure the previous test result is accurate and certainly. The other criteria of ethical reasoning is consistency. It states whatever decision a person made or action taken should consistent with his or her moral values. Thus, Stanton should makes a decision that does not contrary with his moral values. Question 3 Currently, I think he should not be a whistle-blower. Because there are several methods to solve this problem internally,such as informing the problem to top management and thus he should not involve public media in solving this problem. Beside that, he should considers his role as an employee. As a employee, his role is creating values for the company or help the company the achieve its goals. If he blows the whistle on his own company, it will defame the company plus he might get fired or distrust by his colleagues. At the meantime, it might consider unethical to be a whistle-blower because it doesn't bring any positive values for company and may against the conducts as an employee. In addition, the effect may cause to the company if the scandal concern a company leak out is always out of estimation, so he should not risk his career and the fame of his company since there are other methods can be use to solve this problem. Question 4 The company already have the protocol in testing and reporting of product tests. The company could heavily punish those who do not follow the protocol to avoid this kind of situation. In additional, the company should be careful when hiring the plant manager. They should hire someone with good moral values such as honesty and sincerity. Beside that, they should make sure the plant manager is open-minded, and with good interpersonal or people management skills. It can help to prevent this kind of situation because a open-minded manager able to listen to advices or opinions and making wise decision based on evidences. Beside that, a manager with good interpersonal or people management skills could enhance the performance of the employees and this increase the quality of the product. Furthermore, I think the company can give the quality control supervisor the power to stop or adjust the production if product failure occurred. It is often costly to reproduce the product when it was finished. Thus, the company should allow the quality control supervisor to find out and solve the problem instantly without waiting further instruction from plant manager.

A Christmas Story About A Young Orphan History Essay

On the dark of Christmans Eve, a immature orphan named Pip visited the Gravess in the God's acre in award of his asleep household members. As he paid his respects, a cryptic alien, who appeared in a pathetic visual aspect with a concatenation attached to his leg, glided out from the shadows and directed a hungry knife to Pip ‘s vulnerable pharynx. Following, the adult male silenced Pip and began to inquire him a series of inquiries about his defenders. Once Pip replied, stating him that he lived with his sister Mrs. Joe Gargery and her hubby Joe Gargery, the blacksmith, the capturer stared at Pip into his eyes and solemnly demanded Pip to present him a file ( to take the ironss ) , and some nutrient to decide his hungriness. Then, he instructed Pip that the tool and the nutrient should be delivered to him early the following forenoon at the Old Battery ‘s location. In order to vouch Pip ‘s trueness, the destitute capturer advised Pip to non distribute any word about the brush and to listen to his instructions, or else he would let go of his homicidal side and terminal Pip ‘s life. After the Pip ‘s captor finished his message, he began to casually saunter off, but glanced back periodically before disappearing with the dark. Terrified from the ghastly brush, Pip raced place every bit fast as he could. After the incident, Pip returned place to the forge and discovered Joe entirely in the kitchen. The temper of the house seemed unagitated, but shortly, Joe informed Pip that Mrs. Joe had been furiously disquieted and left the house to look for him. Merely as Joe finished make fulling Pip in on the state of affairs, Mrs. Joe busted through the door and began to paddle and chastise Pip about what he did, before chilling down. Once the ambiance was restored, Mrs. Joe began to function the dinner of staff of life with butter to Pip and Joe. Alternatively of eating the piece, Pip slid his part into his bloomerss due to the fright of decease from the alien at the God's acre. However, Joe noticed that Pip ‘s piece was gone and assumed that he swallowed the staff of life, which led to Pip ‘s ingestion of the Tar-water. Later that flushing, the house was shaken by the sound of guns, which made Pip funny about what it symbolized. He shortly learned from Joe that the sounds marked t he significance that there were inmates on the loose. Besides, he discovered that the guns were shot from ships known as the Hulks, which were ships dedicated to hive awaying felons who were charged with slaying and other offenses. During bedtime, Pip experienced panics about the brush with the alien in the fens. In the forenoon, Pip decided to decide his panics and took the nutrient ( porc pie and brandy ) from the kitchen, and a file from the forge, and so left to the Old Battery. Chapter Three In chapter three, Pip approached the Old Battery experiencing a enormous sum of guilty from stealing the nutrient and file. As Pip neared the location, he encountered a kiping adult male who looked like the alien from the God's acre and shook him wake up. However, when the being got up, Pip noticed that he had the incorrect individual, but this adult male and his mark were dressed identically. The awoken extra tried to assail Pip, but missed wholly and escaped off. After the happening, Pip arrived at the Battery and found his adult male, who appeared in a saddening status. Pip continued toward the deprived, hapless alien, and handed over the nutrient and file. Then, the famished single immediately began to banquet on the nutrient without vacillation and thanked Pip one time he satisfied his hungriness. Later, Pip brought up the subject about the indistinguishable individual he had ran into on the journey over, which sparked up the adult male ‘s pique and heightened his senses. After hearing about his enemy, the adult male prepared to run his reproduction, but foremost, he demanded Pip to manus over the file and he began to hammer off at the Fe. With his attending focused on taking the ironss from his leg, Pip took the chance and left the scene. Chapter Four When guilty Pip returned place, he found his sister busily cleaning the house for the approaching dinner that flushing. After Pip fabricated that he was listening to Christmas carols, he joined Joe in the kitchen and Mrs. Joe served them a weak breakfast of staff of life and milk due to her busy agenda. Once they finished eating, Joe and Pip went to go to church in topographic point of Mrs. Joe, since she was excessively busy from readyings. While off, Pip was haunted by the ideas of his sister detecting the stolen nutrient such as the meat pie. When the two returned, they found the house prepared for the dinner response and waited for the invitees to get. Soon, the invitees, Mr. Wopsle, Mr. and Mrs. Hubble, and Uncle Pumblechook stepped in, the household and invitees exchanged salutations and any gifts they possessed. As everyone sat down on the dinner tabular array, the repast eventually commenced. Throughout the dinner, many conversations were exchanged and the eventide was turn o vering swimmingly, until Mrs. Joe served Uncle Pumblechook the tar-water alternatively of the brandy ( Pip had refilled the incorrect bottle when he stole the brandy ) . Before long, Uncle Pumblechook recovered and the eventide was rapidly coming to an terminal, which prompted Mrs. Joe to function the concluding and most impressive dish of the eventide, the porc pie. Since Pip knew about the absence of the dish, a moving ridge of nervousnesss rushed into his organic structure and he made an flight for the door. However, as he reached the door, he stumbled upon soldiers and one carried a set of handlocks in his custodies. Chapter Five In the beginning of the chapter, the soldiers entered the house, which alarmed the dinner invitees and distracted Mrs. Joe off from the porc pie every bit good. The soldiers shortly requested for Mr. Joe, the blacksmith, and asked him to mend the presented handlocks for the male monarch. Immediately, Joe went off to work and was accompanied by a few soldiers. As Joe was working, the commanding officer mentioned the Hunt for the inmates, and how it was expected to stop at twilight once the turnups were renewed. Later, the commanding officer was offered to take a place during his delay and was offered some vino. Finally, after two hours, Joe finished his work and the soldiers left to complete the Hunt for the inmates. However, Joe and Mr. Wopsle chose to label along the pursuit and brought Pip every bit good. During the Hunt, the three trailed at the rear of the battalion and Pip realized that that his inmate would presume that he had betrayed him if he was seen. As the group moved tow ard the Old Battery ‘s place, the soldiers and the invitees heard the sounds of the nearby cheering of two work forces. Next, the military personnels marched closer to the beginning of the noise and saw the two targeted inmates fighting at the underside of the ditch. Upon the gaining control, the 2nd inmate announced that Pip ‘s inmate attempted to kill him. Conversely, Pip ‘s inmate responded by stating that he was forestalling the adult male from get awaying the Hulks. As the alibis persisted, the sergeant silenced the two and told the soldiers to put ablaze the torches for visible radiation. Afterwards, the soldiers stood in a ring and fired their guns to signal the gaining control, and began to process over to the Hulks. Once they reached their finish, and were prepared to let go of the runawaies back to the ships, Pip ‘s inmate lied and told the group that he had stolen the porc pie and the spirits from Joe ‘s forge. Then, the two felons were sent onto the boats and were rowed over to the Hulks. Chapter Six After the gaining control was over, the hunting perceivers, Pip, Joe, and Mr. Wopsle journeyed place. On the manner back, Pip pondered about the possible consequences of what could happen if he revealed to Joe the existent narrative behind his interaction with the inmate. However, since Pip did n't desire to lose the trust from his lone friend and comrade, Pip decided to stamp down the truth. Pip assumed that Joe would non look up to him, which prevented him from stating the truth, but he began to believe that it was his ain jejuneness that blocked the truth from coming out. Soon, Pip fell asleep as he walked place and Joe carried him on his dorsum through the concluding stairss back place. At place, Mr. Wopsle and Joe met up with Mrs. Joe and Uncle Pumblechook and Joe recalled the chapters of their journey, which included Pip ‘s runaway ‘s fiction about stealing the pie before being rowed back to the Hulks. Pip ‘s inmate ‘s false comments sparked the investig ator in the members of the family and the group began to seek for ways in which the inmate could hold entered the family. Once the Sleuthing concluded, Pip was assisted to his bed and the eventide came to an terminal. Chapter Seven As Pip grew older, he learned to read and could grok the words on the Gravess of his household members. Before coming of age for an apprenticeship with Joe, Pip went to an evening school run by Mr. Wopsle ‘s grandaunt. In add-on to the school, the topographic point for acquisition was besides a store, which was run by Biddy, the granddaughter. Although Biddy ran the shop, she would integrate her clip to assist out Pip ‘s instruction. On one peculiar dark, a twelvemonth after the Hunt, Pip wrote a missive to Joe on his slate. After Pip completed his message, he handed it over to Joe, who was highly amazed, since he had ne'er learned to read or compose. As Joe attempted to read the message, Pip realized that Joe was uneducated and questioned him about his early instruction. Joe began and told Pip that his male parent was the chief hurdle of his acquisition, which led him to get down work at an early age. Besides, Joe informed Pip that when his female parent died, he had found Mrs. Joe, and offered her to populate with him in the forge. Shortly after, Joe included that when he accepted Mrs. Joe into the forge, he besides welcomed Pip to populate at that place excessively. After, he began to portion with Pip his empathy toward Pip ‘s penalties from Mrs. Joe, which illuminated a new position in which Pip viewed Joe. Later that dark, Mrs. Joe and Uncle Pumblechook arrived back from their trip to the bazar and beg an to convey up the topic of Miss. Havisham. It had seemed that Miss. Havisham, an flush, but lonely lady, had invited Pip to travel to her house, the Satis House, to play. After informing Pip, Mrs. Joe instantly began to tidy up Pip and dressed him nicely, before passing him over to Uncle Pumblechook. After interchanging farewells, Pip left with Uncle Pumblechook, who would present him to the Satis House the following forenoon. Chapter Eight In the forenoon, Pip woke up in the market edifice of Uncle Pumblechook. After rousing, Pip inhaled the olfactory property of the seeds of the store, and went to go to breakfast with Uncle Pumblechook. During the breakfast, Pip received the poorest helpings of nutrient and the two spoke about mathematics. Without a satisfying repast, Pip and Pumblechook left for Miss Havisham ‘s abode. When they arrived to the deeply armoured bastion, they rang the forepart gate and were greeted by a gorgeous immature lady. As Pip was allowed to come in, Pumblechook, on the other manus was locked out without compunction. Then, the immature lady returned to Pip ‘s side, and they began to walk over to the house. As they were walking over, Pip was introduced to a brewery, which was portion of the edifice, and so continued on to the house. When they approached a certain room, Pip was told to come in entirely. The room was deprived of daytime and at the tabular array in the room sat a figure d raped in white. In a piece, the figure, Miss. Havisham, informed Pip that she had been broken-hearted and that she had ne'er seen the daytime in old ages. Moments subsequently, the miss who greeted Pip at the gate, Estella, was called into the room and she and Pip sat down to play cards. As they played, Estella won and ashamed Pip with her violative comments. After losing another unit of ammunition, it was clip to go forth and Pip was asked to return yearss subsequently, before being escorted by Estella to the pace. In the pace, Pip was served with some nutrient from Estella and so Estella walked off. When she was gone, Pip began to cast cryings from the shame and discourtesy he received from Estella. Soon, Estella came back to open the gate, and Pip left in humiliation. Chapter Nine After a twenty-four hours of letdown, Pip returned place to the forge to Mrs. Joe and Pumblechook, who were highly funny about his trip. Unwilling to talk the truth, Pip fabricated his experience at Miss. Havisham ‘s house. For illustration, alternatively of playing a black game of cards, he illustrated about how they played with flags and blades, which impressed and enlightened his hearers. However, when Joe came in, Pip began experiencing ashamed of stating Joe a prevarication, and doing Joe experience proud of him. When the crowd eventually left to go to to their responsibilities, Pip walked into Joe ‘s forge to state him the truth. Pip began by stating Joe about how his visual aspect did n't suit the scene and that his experience was the antonym of terrific. Following, he introduced how the miss, Estella referred to him as take downing common man. However, Joe tried to soothe Pip and told him that being common was non negative, but alternatively, everyone had to get d own out as one before they made their manner to the top. With that, Joe stated that he was non angered by the deceptive narrative, but merely asked for Pip to non raise up any more false narratives. That dark, Pip took Joe ‘s message personally and recognized the twenty-four hours as the most unforgettable twenty-four hours, which changed him profoundly. Chapter Ten During one fresh, new twenty-four hours, Pip decided to inquire Biddy to educate and assist him go more literate. However, before she could get down, Mr. Wosple ‘s grandaunt had fallen asleep and Biddy had to recover the order to the school. After Biddy was done, she lent Pip some assignments to work on and Pip left. As Pip was walking place, he went into the Three Jolly Bargemen to name Joe to come place. When Pip found Joe inside the saloon, he was accompanied by Mr. Wopsle and another adult male who he did non acknowledge. Momentarily, Pip took a place following to Joe to listen to the conversations. The conversation began after the cryptic adult male treated Mr. Wopsle and Joe to rums, and Joe introduced the members of the tabular array to the unknown adult male. Throughout the meeting, the alien began to direct his attending to Pip and stirred his drink with a file towards Pip ‘s attending. Shortly, Pip rapidly noticed that there was a connexion between the adult mal e in forepart of him and the inmate he had encountered a twelvemonth ago. When the rum ran out, Joe and Pip stood up to go forth, but were halted by the alien, who so gave Pip a bent piece of paper. After, Joe and Pip left the saloon, along with Mr. Wopsle. Once Joe and Pip arrived place, they unraveled the bent paper along the side of Mrs. Joe, and discovered two one-pound notes on the paper. However, Joe raced back to return the money, but the alien was gone. That dark, Pip went to kip chew overing about the cryptic alien who possessed his inmate ‘s file.

Last philosophy paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Last philosophy paper - Essay Example nce, if a philosopher asks whether knowledge originates in the senses or in the mind, this presupposes the philosopher has the right concept of knowledge, of mind, of senses, and of origination. Without these more basic concepts, the philosophical enterprise is doomed to wander aimlessly. An equally popular example of a philosophical question is, naturally, What is the meaning of life? Likewise, this question presupposes an understanding of the terms involved, and through a realized insight into what the terms refer to, one might come to understand the answer to the question. The question I am asking reflects on that existential quest for meaning. However, the quest for meaning I am concerned about deals not with life in general, but with the subject of a life. What is the meaning of my life? By changing the question, I have introduced a new term, but one which simplifies the issue and makes my life in particular something which must be grasped before attempting to answer the question. However, it is unclear is how I am to understand my life. As opposed to life in general, my life is defined by particular values and experiences that are not shared between different people or cultures. For example, my career as a Director of Sales and Marketing is driven by my experiences, knowledge, and values that I alone possess. My individuality reduces the issue to one of narrowing down what is important to me and finding values in those experiences. Asking the question in terms of my life provides a certain methodology for understanding how to answer the question, for if life shares certain essential characteristics, then it would not matter if it were my life the question asked about, or my neighbors life. This is the existentialist slant in trying to find an answer to the question. The philosopher Sà ¸ren Kierkegaard called this kind of answer a â€Å"leap of faith†1, and that the values, which belong to individuals, vary enough to give themselves, and their lives,

JP Morgan Chase and Bank One Merger Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

JP Morgan Chase and Bank One Merger - Essay Example Bank One Corporation had been created through mergers with many other banks like Banc One of Columbus, First Chicago NBD, and Ohio but the mergers were considered a failure until Jamie Dimon who had been chosen as the president and CEO took over the leadership of the company and reformed the new firm’s practices (American Bar Association, 2007). Dimon improved the firm by changing the disastrous technology jumble inherited from the prior mergers done by Bank One Corporation and ensured that the bank was more than sufficient to be a viable merger for JPMorgan Chase. Bank One Corporation had spread its roots in many States with the beginning of interstate banking and acquired many banks and with this successful process, they resisted combining into one bank. According to the writings by Truitt (2006), Bank One Corporation, had to be merged with JPMorgan after the departure of their CEO John B. McCoy, whose father and grandfather had headed Bank One. McCoy left because after the First Chicago NBD merger, Banc One Corporation started having financial issues and there was no other option other than accepting help from others. Dimon was brought in as the head of the company and this is when the JPMorgan completed the acquisition of Bank One. The mega-merger was a success because JPMorgan Chase & Co. is one of the largest and best-known financial institutions in the world. Skeel (2011) stated that J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. is a leading global financial services firm with valuable assets and operations in more than 50 countries. The firm provides good services to people in the society and many of the world’s most prominent government, institutional and corporate clients. The mega-merger was a success because Bank One would have failed running on its own due financial difficulties. Griffin and Moorehead (2010) stated that JPMorgan Chase & Co is

ENG Comp II- TCP Task 1 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

ENG Comp II- TCP Task 1 - Research Paper Example In this context, Al-Azmi (2013) has provided lots of information on how user behaviors, expectations, and needs are being studied. This paper is selected as a reference since Al-Azmi’s (2013) excellent literature review helps the reader to understand the might of cognitive technologies at full length, especially in the realm of business intelligence. Al-Azmi is a qualified computer engineer with extensive experience in writing journal articles and scientific papers. Bentivoglio, C. A., Bonura, D., Cannella, V., Carletti, S., Pipitone, A., Pirrone, R., .Rossi, P.G. & Russo, G. (2010). Intelligent Agents supporting user interactions within self regulated learning processes.  Journal of e-Learning and Knowledge Society,  6, 27-36. The authors of this journal article clearly show that how adoption of cognitive technologies has proved to be instrumental in improving user satisfaction and performance. Hence, Bentivoglio et al (2010) are of the opinion that development of cognitive tools and techniques with self-regulatory capabilities can give better results. This paper has been selected because the authors have explained several advanced concepts with the help of real world examples. Carlo A. Bentivoglio is a science education specialist from the University of Macerata. Implementation of cognitive technologies in education is one of his team’s current research interests. In this journal article, Dascal and Dror (2005) have successfully attempted to contextualize cognitive technologies as per the demands of contemporary world. The authors show that the cognitive tools can be put in use to improve user performance by the means of process redistributions, semantic understanding of things, text mining, etc. The paper is selected for present research because it contains an exhaustive coverage of the topic that how people can benefit most from intelligences tools and cognitive methods. The authors Dascal (Tel-Aviv University) and Dror (University College of London)

Managing Business Projects Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Managing Business Projects - Case Study Example At times, co-ordination between employees was a problem and communication gaps following this clustered spaced out location offices could be an issue. It has thus important to address the problem and seek a viable solution to the situation in hand. To address this problem, it has become important for Sekroob to accommodate its entire staff on just one floor. It was decided to rent and utilize a new floor of out of town accommodation. The flowed would ensure that the entire call center is housed on one floor alongside many a floor operational advantages. An increase in efficiency was expected, staff motivation to rise, faster inflow and outflow of business products, lesser chaos and a more smooth running business atmosphere. Initially it was decided to use a professional re-location company by the director Ron Black for acquisition and equipping the new work space. But one need to realize that a professional relocation company to relocate the company over the weekend would mean expenses would increase manifold. I could relocate the office, and the staff which could be far more beneficial compared to hiring a professional relocation company to do the same. My focus of the project would be to do it at a cost which is less than half of what would be spent on a professional relocation company. It would focus on quality control as I have worked with the organization and I am more aware of the internal environment of the office. Moreover, it is also guaranteed that the work would finish will before the coming weekend and by next Monday; the entire staff would be working in the new location. Facts discovered after some research: A current situation analysis under taken has revealed that there was 78 staff including 6 section leaders and one director in the company. The office was located on various floors of the town center office, each of which could be accessed by 2 service lifts or stairs. It was only the call center director who had an individual office otherwise open plan offices were scattered all over. The workers were present in 6 work stations which combined had 13 cells. 6 cells were located on the 4th floor while the remaining 7 stood scattered over the lower floors. The equipment in these work stations involved the presence of a desk, a lockable desk pedestal and over head hanging storage cabinet, cabinet telephone equipment with networked computer, monitor and laser printer. There were 3 cupboards in each of the 4 cells. Plan: The relocation would involve relocating the call center department to the second floor. The plan is to relocate the call center department to the second floor. For this new office furniture would be purchased and fit in by the manufactures. This will be followed by the use of vacated office space would then be used by other departments shortly after the move. So the vacated work stations had to be in a usable condition. The department had created a plan of where everyone was to be located (seated) in the new office. The trial shift: To figure out how long each activity would take, a trial shift was planned over one weekend. In this trial run, a working cell was moved into a van, driven to another office and unpacked so that it could be used again. The idea behind this was to figure out how long the whole process would take and to figure out any potential problems that would be

Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 4

Research Proposal Example hts refer to the moral norms or principles that generally describe some specific human behavior standards which are protected regularly as legal rights according to the set of International Law. The rights are inherent for all human beings irrespective of their age, nationality, gender, ethnicity, religion and place. However, in practice it is found that there are major sections of people who are deprived of certain human rights because of the existence of discrimination among the people based on different factors including race, gender, nationality and many more (East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project, â€Å"Defending Human Rights: A Resource Book for Human Rights Defenders†). Defending or protection of human rights has become a major challenge for the government of different countries and people are also required to defend their own human right. It is very essential for the government and legal authorities to implement effective laws and regulations that woul d help in providing the respective human right to every section of people in the society and further avoid discrimination (Freedomhouse, â€Å"Defending Regional Human Rights Protection Mechanisms: The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights under Attack†). Additionally, the human rights states that there should not be inequality among the people based on diverse discriminating factors. More awareness should be created among the people regarding the importance of defending human right so that people are equally treated and they receive what they deserve being responsible citizen of society (OSCE/ODIHR, â€Å"Guidelines on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders†). Some human rights defenders focuses on encouraging Government as a whole to fulfill human rights obligations, for example by publicizing information on the Government’s record of implementing human rights standards and monitoring progress made (OHCHR, â€Å"Human Rights Defenders: Protecting the Ri ght to Defend Human

Christian Believes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Christian Believes - Essay Example He gave them the ability to control nature, which was created in order to allow people to have everything necessary for their lives. Many modern scholars believe that Christianity is responsible for the deterioration of the environment and the emergence of serious problems such as global warming, pollution of the planet, etc. However, if one reads the Bible attentively, he/she will see that the Bible urges people to respect nature and the environment based on a rational and careful use of natural resources. God created nature and gave the man the ability to control it: The Bible focuses particular attention on the responsible attitude of people to nature. In particular, in the Old Testament, Jewish people had been instructed to give the land an opportunity to rest for 50 years, so it could be used after (Lev. 25. 8-11). In addition, God forbade the Jews to destroy the trees growing in the cities that they wanted to capture (Deut. 20.19). Thus, Christianity justifies the need to take care of nature, because nature gives people all that they need for their harmonious life. Unfortunately, violence continues to be one of the most common forms of misunderstanding between people. Throughout the world, one can observe various forms of violence that often lead to casualties. As an example of violence, one can consider the type of violence caused by racial hatred. Many countries have faced this serious problem. United States is no exception. In the US, racial hatred led to the death of many people. Many people who have been victims of such violence believed that they had the right to use violence in response. Nevertheless, Christianity represented by the Bible and especially the New Testament opposes any form of violence, in particular caused as a result of racial hatred. Jesus Christ has marked a completely new approach to the problem of violence. He urged people to eradicate violence in the community and learn to love each other,

Antoine Lavoisier-Life, Contributions, and the French Revolution Research Paper

Antoine Lavoisier-Life, Contributions, and the French Revolution - Research Paper Example He studied at College Mazarin from 1754 to 1761, where he was taught several subjects, such as Botany, Mathematics, Chemistry and Astronomy. In 1771, when he was 28 years old, he married Marie-Anne Pierrette Paulze, when she was barely 13 years old. Marie-Anne also took a fancy to chemistry and assisted her husband in translating crucial English documents in French. Furthermore, she came out with a biography of Antoine Laurent Lavoisier by the name ‘Lavoisier’s memoirs’. Lavoisier’s father bought a title for him in 1772, and consequently he came into membership with a privately owned company called the Farmer’s General that collected taxes from the royal government. Subsequently, his wealth and influence amplified considerably. Since he was a member of the Gun Powder Commission, he resided in the Paris Arsenal where he built a private laboratory to investigate and analyze the results of chemical experiments which had been performed by others, and als o to carry out his own. During the year 1791, he was appointed as a Secretary of the Treasury (Scott, 2). Antoine not only came with the discovery and naming of oxygen. He also established the procedure of rusting and asserted the significance of oxygen for the survival of animals and plants by ascertaining its role in respiration. He was also one of the first people who performed some complex chemical experiments, which gave rise to stoichiometry. Furthermore, he also founded the law of conservation of mass and, with the assistance of his chemical experiments, he managed to determine that animals made use of oxygen as a respiratory gas and this gas exchange was a process, which was used to create heat, and it was also very similar to the process of burning of a candle. Other than his role as a physicist, botanist and chemist, Lavoisier also achieved a law degree, but he never practiced law formally in his life. He was a prominent member of the Ferme Generale, and was also one of th e 28th tax collectors of France. During the French Revolution, he was exposed to the ire of the French revolutionaries. Being a liberal, he had to undergo major opposition from Jean-Paul Marat who supported revolutionaries. When the French Revolution was at its peak, Jean Paul Marat pressed treason accusations against Lavoisier for selling watered-down tobacco and several other crimes. During the year 1794, the period of the â€Å"Reign of Terror’, Antoine provided help to some foreign scientists and mathematicians, for example, Joseph Lagrange, under treason (New Advent, 1). The judge presiding over the case of Lavoisier rejected the appeal to forgive Lavoisir’s life and to let him go on with his unfinished work. He said, â€Å"The Republic needs neither scientists nor chemists; the course of justice cannot be delayed.† Consequently, on 8th May, 1794 when Lavoisier was 50 years old, he was guillotined in Paris. Lavoisier’s contribution to the inception of advanced chemistry was primarily concentrated in the field of theory. He added extensions, summarized and confirmed the theories and discoveries of several of his contemporaries in England and the European Continent, particularly Henry Cavendish (1731-1810), Joseph Priestley (1733-1804) and Joseph Black (1728-1799). The consequence was that there was a new and more profound understanding of chemical processes that created the

Pollution in China Essay Example for Free

Pollution in China Essay Introduction China, with its rapid industrialisation seems to have paid its price by witnessing steeply rising levels of pollution. With millions of largely unregulated industries, the vast rivers, streams and lakes have become easy avenues for chemical, textile and tanning industries to discharge their toxic contents at will. The paper discusses the pollution in China, its impact on the environment and how it has affected the lives of people.   An Overview of Pollution in China   A report by the World Bank (China 2007) has pointed out that China is facing increased levels of pollution that has kept pace with the rising industrialisation of rural China. The report points out that the use of energy in China has went up by 70 % between 2000 and 2005. The use of coal has also increased by 75% and this has created a corresponding increase in the air pollution. The report points out that China’s emissions of SO2 and soot were respectively 42 percent and 11 percent higher making it the largest polluter in the world. The report also points out that pollution of water, rivers, lakes has also increased to alarming levels. Water pollution is also a cause for serious concern and during 2001 and 2005, about 54 percent of the seven main rivers in China contained water deemed unsafe for human consumption. The report points out that the economic burden of premature mortality and morbidity due to air pollution was157.3 billion Yuan in 2003, or 1.16 percent of by WHO. The report suggests that pollution costs China more than 147 billion Yuan a year in the form of increased health related costs. A report from CBS news says â€Å"Chinas air pollution seems like a problem just for that country, think again. The stuff spewing out in China has now been detected in the United States, and some suspect its beginning to affect the U.S. climate Chinas far-reaching dust and soot cloud travelling to the West Coast hits Hawaii first, and that may be why temperatures in Hawaii are rising. A lot of early-computer modelling of Chinese pollutions effects on the global climate is turning out to be just plain wrong. This is why a massive new study with ground and air monitoring across Asia starts next year† (Yinchaun, 31 March 2000). Following table shows the air quality in China Table 1. Trends in Air Quality in China’s Cities (%) (China, 2007) The following table shows the distribution of particulate matter in air Table 2. Distribution of PM10 and SO2 Levels in 341 Cities, 2003 and 2004 (China, 2007)   The list of pollutants that infect China re provided in the following table. Table 4. List of major pollutants and their categories (China, 2007)   Clare (Clare D’Souza, 2002) reports that â€Å"Energy consumption, especially coal consumption, is the main source of air pollutants such as particles, SO2, NOx, and CO in most cities of China. As the primary energy source, coal has accounted for about 65 to 70 percent (China Statistical Yearbook 2004) of total energy consumption in recent years, which has caused many environmental and human health problems. Crude oil consumption has been increasing because of the rapid expansion of the motor vehicle fleet in many cities. In recent years, epidemiological studies conducted around the world have demonstrated that there are close associations between air pollution and health outcomes. PM10 and SO2 are chosen in many studies as the indicative pollutants for evaluating the health effects of ambient air pollution. Although the mechanisms are not fully understood, epidemiological evidence suggests that outdoor air pollution is a contributing cause of morbidity and mortality. Epidemiological studies have found consistent and coherent associations between air pollution and various outcomes, including respiratory symptoms, reduced lung function, chronic bronchitis, and mortality†. The author suggests that industry â€Å"size† is controversial with respect to environmental issues. In some studies large enterprises have been deemed to be more pollution intensive in comparison with small enterprises. The author reports that small enterprises as being more environmentally friendly due to their size and found small plants to be far more pollution intensive because they are difficult and costly to regulate. Empirical research has suggested that enterprise size is inversely correlated with emissions intensity in developing countries. World Bank and other institutions have found that small enterprises are pollution intensive (Mani, 1997).   Karshenas (1992 author has pointed that the Winter’s (model of business and the environment may be a more appropriate way of approaching the problem. According to the author, â€Å"enterprises may not have mastered perfection in terms of ecological sustainability but enterprises can make a systematic assessment of the areas where improvements can be introduced. Although Winter goes beyond traditional management theory, the model emphasizes ecologically sound processes and practices right throughout a firm, from company policy, employee relations, supply chain, public relations and marketing. A firm should consider prevention, reduction, recycling and disposal of wastes throughout its operations. They should use sustainable inputs in environmentally friendly manufacturing processes that result in greener outputs (i.e. maintaining environmentally friendly processes for a product from cradle to grave). This would prove to be profitable, provided that the end users, be they industry or consumers, are committed to using green products. Ideally, enterprises should take control of their own operational structure by viewing cleaner manufacturing as a competitive and strategic challenge, they should resort to manufacturing life-cycle analysis, environmental auditing and environmental reporting. The reality is that an enterprise cannot consider making a product ecologically sound without considering how its raw material acquisition, development, manufacturing, distribution, sales and disposal systems impact on the environment. The author suggests that has gone one step further by stating that managers in a green venture start from a different mindset. They recognise that becoming green is an opportunity to establish a unique position in a niche market or, by being able to produce a higher value product with fewer resources, to gain a competitive advantage. He proposed a trisect by which sustainable business is based on the concept of balancing ecological, economic and social factors†..   Action to fight pollution   The government of China has redoubled its efforts in fighting pollution and has organized task forces at the local levels. The structure is shown in the following figure. Figure 1. Main Government Partners in the Project   The report has identified a number of measures to fight pollution and these are displayed in the following table. Table 4. Sectors and Pollutants Included in the CECM (China, 2007) The team has implemented certain steps to fight the pollution and these are illustrated in the following figure.   Figure 2. Flow Chart for Estimating the Economic Cost of Pollution (China, 2007)   The following steps have been proposed: Step 1: Identify the pollution factors, polluted area, and related conditions. Step 2: Determine affected endpoints and establish dose-response relationships for pollution damage. Step 3: Estimate population (or other) exposures in polluted areas. Step 4: Estimate physical impacts from pollution using information from steps 2 and 3. Step 5: Convert pollution impacts in physical terms to pollution costs in monetary terms. Indiscreet reaction by the Chinese government Wang (Wang Xiangwei. 4 Jun 4, 2007) reports that the Chinese government is paranoid about maintaining a good image about China, for fears that it may hurt its business stakes. The author reports that the most convenient way for China to control pollution is by jailing activists who point out the problems of pollution. The author reports about the village of Wuxi and how it was affected by pollution. For hundreds of years, Wuxi , on the edge of Tai Lake, was the envy of the nation. In the heart of the Yangtze River delta and known as the land of fish and rice, it was bestowed with fertile land and abundant waterways, and was also home to famous poets, painters and industrialists. Since recently however, the city has become a stinking hell for its five million residents as a blue-green algal bloom from the heavily polluted lake contaminated the citys tap water, making it foul-smelling and undrinkable. After scrambling for six days with emergency measures, Wuxi officials said yesterday the tap water was drinkable. But the residents, who have relied on bottled water for drinking and cooking, have every reason to be suspicious. Xinhua has reported that after the usual cleaning aids such as activated carbon failed to remove the odour, the city adopted what Mayor Mao Xiaoping called a bold move by pouring huge amounts of potassium permanganate (Condys crystals) into water-intake points. This allowed the strong oxidising agent to remove foul-smelling matter from the pipes. But Xinhua failed to explain that potassium permanganate is hazardous and can be a health risk. As the Wuxi officials brazenly claimed credit for winning the battle against the water crisis, none of them yet had the decency to apologise to the suffering residents. All of them have blamed factors beyond their control higher- than-normal temperatures that helped to foster the growth of the algae, a lack of rain and favourable wind conditions, and the lowest water level in the lake in five decades. In fact, the fundamental cause of the crisis is the lakes heavy pollution as several mainland environmentalists have repeatedly warned the authorities in the past decade. Wu Lihong, 39, is one of them. He has spent large sums of his own money over the past 16 years collecting evidence of pollution at Tai Lake, the mainlands thirdlargest freshwater lake, and petitioning the local authorities to shut down the polluters. Now, with a water crisis on its hands, one would imagine any government that claims to put the people first would give Wu a medal of honour and make him a hero. Instead, Wu, known as the Tai Lake anti-pollution warrior in overseas media, is languishing in jail and awaiting trial on June 12 on trumped-up charges of blackmail. A farmer turned businessman who grew up in Zhoutie town in Yixing a small, booming industrial city under the jurisdiction of Wuxi Wu witnessed the lake turn into a cesspit. He then made it a personal crusade to petition authorities to shut down more than 2,000 chemical factories in Yixing that spewed toxic pollutants into the lake every day. By passing the local bureaucracy and filing reports to higher- level government officials has led to limited success he is welcomed, even liked by many central government officials and national media in Beijing. In 2005, he was chosen as one of mainlands top 10 environmentalists and honoured at a ceremony in the Great Hall of the People. But he incurred the wrath of local officials and has been constantly harassed by local policemen, officials and thugs. He was arrested again in April on charges of blackmail after the local officials set a trap for him. They offered him 40,000 yuan for a mission to attract investment from other mainland cities, and then laid charges of blackmailing the authorities. His lawyer, Zhu Xiaoyan , said that Wu had told her that he was whipped while in custody, and she was not allowed to see him until more than six weeks after his arrest. Like Gao Yaojie , a retired Henan doctor who refused to keep quiet about Aids, Wu has refused to stand down despite the threat of jail. The mainland leadership should learn from the fiasco of trying to muzzle Ms Gao and release Wu immediately.(Wang Xiangwei. 4 Jun 4, 2007).   Conclusion Pollution in China has assumed the proportion of an epidemic with wide ramifications on the health of the people, the environment, air and water. The paper has presented discussed various aspects of the problem and presented statistics to show the extent of pollution. Certain recommendations have also been made so that the pollution could be averted and reduced to some extent. References China, 2007. Cost of Pollution in China. Retrieved 18 January 2008 from www.worldbank.org/eapenvironment. Clare D’Souza, 2002. The nexus between industrialization and environment. Journal of Environmental Management and Health. Volume 13 Number 1 2002 pp. 80-97 Karshenas, M (1992), Environment development and employment: some conceptual issues, in Bhalla, A.S (Eds),Environment Development and Employment, WEP Study, ILO, Geneva, Mani, M, Pargal, S, Huq, M (1997), Does environmental regulation determine the location of new manufacturing?, World Bank, Washington, DC, Policy Research Working Paper Wang Xiangwei. 4 Jun 4, 2007. Release the man who first raised the alarm about Tai Lakes pollution China Briefing. South China Morning Post. Hong Kong. P. 5 Xinhua, 26 December 2006. Chinas Energy Conditions and Policies. Xinhua News Agency CEIS. p: 1 Yinchaun. 31 March 2000. A Global Problem: Chinas Pollution. Retrieved 18 January 2008 from http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2000/03/31/archive/main178697.shtml

Theories of Health Change Behaviour

Theories of Health Change Behaviour Introduction To understand the processes and causes of change in health related behaviours still represents a challenging process for health professionals (Orleans, 2000). People’s decisions to engage in such behaviours are affected by factors such as attitudes and beliefs and psychosocial variables (i.e. demographic, psychological or cognitive) which impact the decision-making process of planning behaviours. Thus, it is important to understand the interrelationship between these factors and their influences of adopting and maintaining healthy behaviours. Researchers have attempted to understand and predict health behaviour through the lenses of models and theories of behaviour change. Within the framework of a theory, the researchers get to understand what variables are most important and how to measure them, to formulate research questions based on the understanding of the variables, to test hypotheses regarding behaviour change, and lastly to guiding behaviour change interventions throu gh planning, actions, and maintenance of preventative behaviours (Noar Zimmerman, 2005). Theory-based predictors (i.e. cognitive factors) would provide an organized framework that helps understand and predict health behaviour in a systematic manner (Glanz Maddock, 2000). Theories based on processes of cognitions and thoughts are part of the collection of social cognitive models (SCMs) and focuses on influences of social-cognitive characteristics on decision-making processes. The present essay distinguishes two of SCMs, highly used in understanding the adoption and maintenance of healthy behaviours: the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA; Ajzen and Fishbein 1980) and the Common Sense Model of Self-Regulation (CSM-SR; Leventhal, Diefenbach, and Leventhal (1992)). Both theories suggest that the motivation to change behaviour is driven by social-cognitive beliefs/representations of the health threat and the willingness to avoid adverse outcome. Research applying both theories has a rich history describing their uses in a wide range of behaviours including health (TRA: Cooke and French (2008); CSM-SR: Hagger and Orbell (2003)). Further, both models are based on a set of theoretical constructs and have been used to successfully explain and change behaviours. N evertheless, very little research has concerned empirical comparison of the two (Hunter, Grunfeld, Ramirez, 2003; Orbell, Hagger, Brown, Tidy, 2006) and there is still no consensus that one model is more accurate than the other. Aim This essay’s aim was to review two theories of health change behaviour – the Theory of Reasoned Action and the Common Sense Model of Self-Regulation – with special emphasis on the similarities and differences and the data needed to critically compare and contrast them. Lastly, the aim was to determine which aspects of the frameworks were most successful at predicting and explaining behaviour. What is health behaviour? It is the goal of many researchers to understand the causes, determinants and processes of health behaviour change (Doll Hill, 1964). The most common study looking into the causes of death is the Alameda County Study conducted by Belloc and Breslow in 1972 which identified seven aspects of lifestyle which predicted mortality: smoking, alcohol consumption, sedentary lifestyle, sleeping more or less than 8 hours per night, being either underweight or overweight, skipping breakfast, and eating snacks (Belloc Breslow, 1972). A later British study, the EPIC-Norfolk prospective population study associated similar behaviours with lower risk of mortality (Khaw et al., 2008). Kasl and Cobb attempted the first definition of health behaviour as â€Å"any activity undertaken by a person believing himself to be healthy for the purpose of preventing disease or detecting it at an asymptomatic stage† (Kasl Cobb, 1966). Although this definition includes only preventive health behaviours there are other types of behaviours. Ogden (2007) described illness behaviour as a behavioural action aimed to seek treatment and sick behaviour as a behavioural action aimed to get well (p. 13). There are factors such as individual differences, which influence the change of health behaviours and contributed to the prediction of health behaviours (Baum Posluszny, 1999; Sherman Fazio, 1983). The cognitive factors received the most attention because are considered to cause changes in behaviour and because they are modifiable factors in comparison to, for example, personality. The characteristics of social cognitive factors (e.g. knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs) are involved in the process of decision-making and behaviour control (Fiske Taylor, 1991). SCMs focuse on psychological and social factors and how they influence behaviour change, with a focus on the self-regulation processes and how these relate to behaviour (Conner Norman, 2005). These models are used to ensure a positive change in individual’s behaviour (e.g., changing food intake or increased physical activity) through intervention (Anderson-Bill, Winett, Wojcik, 2011). A very known model used to examine individual’s reactions to illness threats is Leventhal’s (1992) the common sense model of self-regulation (CSM-SR). Another theory focused on motivation to perform health-enhancing behaviours by examining aspects of the cognitions to predict health outcomes is the theory of reasoned action (TRA) designed by Fishbein Ajzen (1975). The models mentioned and many other pr ovide a basis for interventions designed to change health-related behaviours through the emphasis of the rationality of human behaviour. Thus, the prediction of behaviour is considered to be the outcome of the intended behaviour based on a rational decision–making process. Overview of commonly used models Theory of Reason Action (TRA) TRA has been used to predicting the likelihood of performing a specific health-related behaviour based on the compatibility and behavioural intention (Fishbein Ajzen, 1975; Ajzen Fishbein, 1980). The model uses cognitive processes of attitudes toward the behaviour (i.e., feeling positive or negative toward the action) and social normative perceptions (i.e., beliefs of significant others about the individual performing the behaviour) to predict intention of a behavioural action through a rational decision-making process. The theory has been used in a wide range of fields such as information technology (Mishra, Akman, Mishra, 2014), software piracy (Aleassa, Pearson, McClurg, 2010), cyberbullying (Doane, Pearson, Kelley, 2014), hazing (Richardson, Wang, Hall, 2012), domestic violence (Sulak, Saxon, Fearon, 2014), but also in health related behaviour such as substance-abuse (Roberto, Shafer, Marmo, 2014), physical activity (Plotnikoff, Costigan, Karunamuni, Lubans, 2013), diet (Middlestadt, 2012), smoking (Lorenzo-Blanco, Bares, Delva, 2012), HIV prevention behaviours (Jemmott, 2012). Description of the model The design of TRA looks at behavioural intentions of an individual in social context, while investigates the relationships between attitudes, intentions and behaviour. Attitudes toward the behaviour are considered to be a comprehensive gathering of evaluations of the behaviour. As a determinant of intentions, attitudes influence people’s perception, thinking and behaviour. Fishbein and Ajzen (1975) have proposed that attitudes should be measured at the same specific level as the behaviour. Thus, a high level of specificity in behaviour with regard to action, target, context, and time, will result in a high prediction of outcome behaviour. Individual’s attitudes can be explained through the set of beliefs about an outcome of the behaviour and the evaluations (favourable or unfavourable) of the expected outcome. The relationship between salient beliefs and attitudes is based on the Fishbein’s (1967) model of summative attitudes, which assumes they influence individ ual’s attitude. The research of Van den Putte (1991) and Armitage and Conner (2001) proved a strong link between attitudes and salient behavioural beliefs. Subjective norms are the second determinant of behavioural intention (Ajzen Fishbein, 1980; Fishbein Ajzen, 1975). This factor is the representation of the individual’s perception of the social pressures from significant others (i.e. family, friends, work colleagues, etc.) about whether he/she should perform a specific behaviour. This is quantified as the product of the normative beliefs (i.e., individual’s perceived behavioural expectations of important others regarding the performance of the behaviour) and individual’s motivation to comply. Once more, the research of Van den Putte (1991) and Armitage and Conner (2001) identified strong correlations between subjective norms and normative beliefs. Empirical support The TRA has been applied to the prediction of a wide range of different behaviours, including health-related behaviours, with varying degrees of success. There are a number of narrative reviews (Albarracin, Johnson, Fishbein, Muellerleile, 2001; Blue, 1995; Cooke French, 2008; Godin, Belanger-Gravel, Eccles, Grimshaw, 2008; Hagger, Chatzisarantis, Biddle, 2002; Hausenblas Carron, 1997; Sheeran Taylor, 1999) as well as a quantitative reviews of the TRA focusing on general and specific behaviours (physical activity: (Blue, 1995; Hagger et al., 2002; Hausenblas Carron, 1997); screening program (Cooke French, 2008), healthcare professionals (Godin et al., 2008), condom use: (Albarracin et al., 2001; Sheeran Taylor, 1999); and ). and general reviews: (Sheppard, Jon, Warshaw, 1988); van den Putte (1991)). The model has been tested by Sheppard et al. (1988), who reported multiple correlations between intentions and behaviour, and attitudes and subjective norms and intentions to be 0.53 and respectively 0.66 (k= 87, and k=87). Similar results were found by van den Putte (1991). These early studies results constituted the basis of the predictive validity of the TRA framework. In their reviews, Hausenblas and Carron (1997) found a medium effect size for the relationship of intention and behaviours of 0.47, in 31 studies with a sample size of 10,621. In addition, Albarracin et al. (2001) and Hagger et al. (2002) found the same higher correlation between intention and behaviour (r=0.5). In the most recent review to date, Cooke and French (2008) computed a lower value of r=0.42 in 19 tests of the relationship between intention and behaviour, which is slightly larger than the meta-analytic reports by Godin et al. (2008) (r=0.31, k=15, N=2,112). In conclusion, research provides evidence that there is a considerable consistency between TRA variables and their intention to predict behaviour change. Common Sense Model of Self-Regulation (CSM-SR) Description of the model The CSM-SR integrates environmental factors and individual beliefs about illness around individual’s common-sense representations of health (Leventhal et al., 1992). The framework outline is based on parallel-processing pathways (Leventhal, 1970). The model is based on two constructs of a) cognitive or objective perpetual pathway with its coping mechanisms and appraisal process; and b) affective or subjective pathway which represents the emotional response to the illness representation with its own coping mechanisms and appraisal processes. The cognitive pathway is based on individual’s beliefs or representations of illness threat and comprises five dimensions: identity, timeline, cause, consequences, and cure/control. Moss-Morris et al. (2002) explored the extent to which individuals can evaluate the coherence of illness representations, or how much individuals comprehend their condition. The pathway uses individual’s beliefs to shape the selection of appropriat e coping strategies (i.e. approach or avoidance), which in turn are appraised in a repetitive process over time. The self-regulation process implies selection and monitoring of behaviour aimed at controlling threat conditions and the illness representations are formed through symptoms perception and social messages from exposure to a wide range of social and cultural factors. A similar process takes place with the subjective or emotional pathway in parallel and in association with the cognitive process just described. The representation of illness triggers the activation of emotional responses regarding health-related behaviours. For example, fear is activated when a woman discovers an unusual lump thinking it might be cancer resulting in states of worry and distress. The efforts of controlling the emotional responses are appraised in terms of their success and lead to refinements of the representation of new coping strategies. Empirical support Up to date research provides empirical support for the interrelationship between the constructs of identity, timeline, cause, consequences, cure/control, emotions, and coherence and health outcomes (coping: (Heijmans de Ridder, 1998; Moss-Morris, Petrie, Weinman, 1996; Scharloo et al., 2000) and adherence to professional recommendations (Albert et al., 2014; Nicklas, Dunbar, Wild, 2010)). A series of meta-analyses have now been supported the validity of the CSM-SR framework, including narrative reviews (Hoving, van der Meer, Volkova, Frings-Dresen, 2010; Kucukarslan, 2012; Lobban, Barrowclough, Jones, 2003; Munro, Lewin, Swart, Volmink, 2007) and those focused on specific chronic conditions (diabetes: (Hudson, Bundy, Coventry, Dickens, 2014; Mc Sharry, Moss-Morris, Kendrick, 2011); acute myocardial infarction: (French, Cooper, Weinman, 2006); and mixed chronic diseases: (Hagger Orbell, 2003)). French et al. (2006) in a review of eight studies which predicted attendance at c ardiac rehabilitation interventions following acute myocardial infarction reported the constructs of identity (r=0.13) consequences (r=0.08), and cure/control (r=0.11) to be positively significantly associated with attendance behaviour. In addition, Mc Sharry et al. (2011) located nine cross-sectional studies and four RCTs examining the relationship between illness constructs and the HbA1c, and found a similar result for identity (r=0.14) but higher effect size estimates for consequences (r=0.14). Other significant associations were found for timeline cyclical (r=0.26), concern (r=0.21), and emotions (r=0.18). The most recent meta-analysis conducted by Hudson et al. (2014) included nine cross-sectional studies and found that individuals with high levels of constructs of timeline cyclical (r=0.25, depression; r=0.31, anxiety), consequences (r=0.41, depression; r=0.44, anxiety), and seriousness beliefs (r=0.38, depression) and lower perceptions of personal control (r=-0.27, depression ; r=-0.20, anxiety) are more likely to have poorer emotional health. Lastly, Hagger and Orbell (2003) review (N=45) addressed the validity of the model and the average correlations of illness representation dimensions were significantly positive for identity-consequences (r=0.37, p Comparison and contrasting of the models Research focused on comparing and contrasting theories of health-related behaviour change assesses the utility of those theories to advancing understanding of behaviour change processes. The two theoretical models outlined above show a number of similarities and differences. Several observations can be made in comparing the similarities of the models. First, CSM-SR and TRA are both social cognitive models concerned with how cognitive determinants are influencing each other in the regulation of behaviour and how these are applied to the understanding of health behaviours. Second, some constructs are common to both models, for example both CSM-SR and TRA are interested in how social-cognitive representations of health threat can motivate an individual to comply with his/her recommended treatment to avoid an adverse health outcome. Third, the models are used to analyse the influence of perceived factors external to individual on clinical-related behaviour. Moreover, both models explain behaviour change in terms of modifiable variables and support the importance of symptom attribution (Waller, 2006). Forth, CSM-SR and TRA are based on dynamic causal processes. In the CSM-SR, the individual regulates the interactions representations, coping mechanism and appraisal in an attempt to maintain coherence among them. In the TRA framework, changes in attitudes are influenced by changes in behavioural beliefs which ultimately produces changes in behaviour (Sutton, 2001). Lastly, both theories are used in developing intervention strategies, for example, related to help-seeking behaviour, by targeting modifiable variables (Waller, 2006). In contrasting the TRA and CSM-SR theoretical basis, the CSM-SR proposes that for a better understanding of individual’s behavioural adherence, the researcher needs to make reference to individual’s attitudes toward the threatening condition. In contrast, TRA proposes that the motivation needs to be understood through individual’s attitude toward the action of going to the appointment/ treatment (Orbell et al., 2006). The CSM-SR emphasizes the importance of assessment of the likelihood of adherence through the evaluation of illness beliefs constructs (i.e. identity, timeline, cause, consequences, and cure/control), while in the TRA model only a single attitude is used to evaluate outcomes. Another distinctive contrast between the two models lies within the constructs of the framework. While the CSM-SR takes account of the impact of emotional variables, the TRA is almost entirely rational and does not account for emotional factors. Another aspect is that CSM-SR do es not take account of the social influences that might shape illness beliefs or decision-making process, which is assessed by the TRA framework through subjective norms factor. The models also differ in the way they are applied in research literature. The cognitive and emotional constructs of CSM-RS were designed specifically for understanding illness perception and adherence. (Leventhal et al., 1992). By contrast, TRA was designed to predict volitional behaviours, thus it can be applied to various behaviours, for example information technology (Mishra et al., 2014), software piracy (Aleassa et al., 2010), cyberbullying (Doane et al., 2014), hazing (Richardson et al., 2012), and domestic violence (Sulak et al., 2014). Looking at the differences in measuring the components of the models, CSM-SR uses a well-validated set of constructs developed by Weinman and colleagues (Weinman, Petrie, Moss-morris, Horne, 1996). In contrast, the TRA models do not have a method per sei to measure its constructs. Thus, Ajzen Fishbein (1980) provides an extensive details of the constructs for research to develop theory own measures. In conclusion, the TRA and CSM-SR are both social cognitive model and their design is based on interpretation of cognitive factors in relation to behaviour change and each of them have their own weaknesses and strengths. Their contribution is significant and productive in the research literature because researchers can explore and test the theories to increases the understanding of health-related behaviours and help in the development of behaviour change interventions.

gatillus American Illusions in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby :: free essay writer

American Illusions in The Great Gatsby    The American dream. Every American has his or her own ideals and preferences, but all share more or less the same dream. In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald explores what happens when this dream is taken too far.   What is one to do when the dream begins to overshadow reality?   What are the consequences when a successful man allows the dream to matter more than life itself?   Fitzgerald tells all through the hopeless Gatsby, idealistic Nick, and ignorant Myrtle.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Mansions, cars, jewels, and extravagant parties- what more could a person want? Gatsby had it all, yet he was still empty inside, craving more. All the riches Gatsby has mean nothing without his great love, Daisy. Gatsby strived to become successful for the sole purpose of capturing Daisy's heart. However, Gatsby's dream is an unattainable and hopeless dream for he can never win her love. Daisy and Gatsby live only miles apart, but their relationship is eons apart, as Daisy is already attached. Gatsby is pursuing "a transcendent significance outside of society and beyond the notability of history" (Lynn 180). Gatsby is dreaming "the American dream" that anything is possible, but the tragic flaw within him is that he is living in the past and cannot see the destructive future that lies ahead. Gatsby says, "I'm going to fix everything just the way it was before,... She'll see," and he does not realize that he cannot make it the way it was be fore (Fitzgerald 114). When Gatsby does get the chance to prove himself to Daisy, it is already too late. According to Fitzgerald, "the whole caravansay had fallen in like a card house at the disapproval in her eyes," (Fitzgerald 114). Gatsby's downfall is in the fact that he is unable to determine the fine line that divides reality and illusion in his life.   The green light at the end of Daisy's dock burns bright for Gatsby, but Gatsby does not realize that he cannot ever capture the light. He continues to dream blindly.   This is evident when Nick tells Gatsby that he cannot relive the past and Gatsby replies, "Why of course you can, old sport!" (Fitzgerald 116). Gatsby's dream of capturing Daisy's love is based on a fantasy of romance, but the truth is that Daisy is already taken and no amount of money or popularity can change that.

Public and Private Management Essay -- Business, Performance Review, Q

Unlike many of the other writing assignments done thus far, this paper will be providing brief synopses for several essays on issues involved with the study of public management. Although it might be possible to state that the ideas and theories presented in these texts are either true or false, it will be the goal of this writing to take the simple approach and focus on the thoughts that are presented are still relevant in modern practice of public management. However, it is first important to point out that even today there is no aggregated view for weighing or measuring the success of public managers. This is because in part due to the various ways in which the agencies manage themselves, for example whether or not they chose to follow national performance review (NRP) response or a total quality management (TQM) method. Another problem is that often times today a management policy that has been set up and successfully tested for the private sector is either grafted to the, or im posed over the management policies of a public enterprise. The issue that this brings up is that, depending on the agency, that there is no clear idea on who the ‘customers’ are, nor what ‘product’ is that the public agency is trying to appease. Meanwhile, the management theories that are being imposed on to them, are based on a quantifiable examination as to rather they are successful or not. Simply put, there is no easy or standard way for researchers of the field of public administration to be able to clearly differentiate between the successful management styles of one public administrator to another. In fact, researching this problem is the very thing that our first author is calling for in his essay. Graham T. Allison attempts with his article... ...uted to be useful as a measurement against the values from the private sector. Instead, Moore suggests that research in a cost-effectiveness approach may be a solution to this problem (1995, p 553). All of these essays end up with the same major issue concerning measuring the successful public management style, from one that is not successful. In one form or another both Moore and Moe have called for research in finding some standard in analyzing the public sector. In any analysis standard, the effects that politics has in its creation cannot be ignored. If as Woodrow Wilson claim is true, and the goal of these public administrators is to find the most cost-effective and the most efficient method to implement the political oriented policies; then why not come up with a measurement on the efficiency and cost-effectiveness to be used for passing judgment on them?

Love in Romeo and Juliet Essay

There are Many types of Love in Romeo and Juliet. Write as Much as you can About the Different Views of Love Shakespeare Gives us. Shakespeare demonstrates many different types of love throughout his construct â€Å"Romeo & Juliet†. Shakespeare’s views on love reflect the time period in which it was written. â€Å"Romeo and Juliet† was written in 1595 with the plot taken from Arthur Brooks’ poem â€Å"The Tragicall Historye of Romeus and Juliet† which was written in 1562. Shakespeare exposes Juliet’s parents as being unkind, callous and nasty. This is revealed through their actions and behaviour towards Juliet. Capulet starts in the play by being acting as a nice father and protects Juliet by telling Paris that he cannot marry Juliet as she is too young, Juliet was aged either 13 or 14 and it was usual to marry early because life expectancy was short. This we realise was just an act because in the time period fathers were just the providers and they never really showed love for their sons/daughters. This is shown when we get to Act 3 Scene 5 and Capulet changes his mind and decided that Juliet will now get married to Paris. This was because in the time period it was common for fathers to choose their daughters husbands from a pool of possible suitors. This is because Capulet thinks the wedding will make her happy after the death of her cousin Tybalt, as she has really been upset about Romeo’s banishment. However when Juliet informs Capulet that she would not like to get married to Paris and her parents get quite angry with Lady Capulet saying that † I would the fool were married to her grave†. Juliet then goes on to beg that she does not want to have to marry Paris and then Capulet replies, â€Å"Hang thee young baggage, disobedient wretch! â€Å". Implying that she will marry Paris or her family might abandon her and wish her dead. This would have been because of the fact that daughters belonged to their fathers and wives to their daughters and they could do with them what they wanted. However in the Montague household the Montague’s, treat Romeo differently because in Act 1 Scene 1 when he has disappeared all morning Lady Montague fears that something may have happened to him, â€Å"O where is Romeo, saw him you today? † she could also fear that he could be in danger. This is how the reader expects all parent and child relationships to be not like how they are in the Capulet family. Then we do not really see Romeos parents again until Act 3 Scene 1 where they stand up for their son by saying that he shouldn’t be killed because he killed the person that should have been killed anyway. If the Capulet’s had acted like this about Juliet would she have been different, maybe she would have wanted to marry Paris and not betray her parents. By the end of the play, Romeo only has his father at his funeral because his mum had died of grief of Romeo being banished. Shakespeare also has her death on the same night that Romeo kills himself so Montague has to deal with double loss. Also it is Montague that first offers to have a statue of Juliet made so in a way he must feel partly responsible and then Capulet follows because maybe he doesn’t want to be seen as the bad guy still. Mercutio has brotherly love for Romeo; however, he is willing to tease him, for example, when he makes Romeo go to the Capulet party even though he does not want to go. In addition, this is exposed when he decides to fight Tybalt instead of Romeo, who does not desire to. Maybe he sees love as always being there for someone and doing things that they do not want or cannot do. The Nurse loves Juliet by helping her find Romeo, her true love, and she helps organise their wedding. She also comes up with ways to sneak Juliet out or Romeo in. By doing this, she betrayed Capulet and Lady Capulet who had no idea what she was up to. This is because The Nurse and Juliet have a greater and closer relationship then Juliet and Lady Capulet because The Nurse brought Juliet up as her own. â€Å"When it did taste the wormwood on the nipple of my dug and felt it bitter† this implies that the Nurse had to breast feed and wean Juliet because Lady Capulet refused to do it. Since the Nurse brought Juliet up her own mother feels uncomfortable in a room with Juliet unless the Nurse is there. This is shown in Act 1 Scene 3 when she says she would like a private word with Juliet and calls the Nurse straight back into the room. This is mainly due to the fact that parental relation ships with children aren’t as strong as they are now. Therefore this would be why Juliet would tell the Nurse about her love for Romeo because she respects her more than her mother as the Nurse gives her more motherly love. However in Act 3 Scene 5 the Nurse abandons Juliet and her love for Romeo by taking Lord and Lady’s Capulet’s side for why she should marry Paris and she tells Juliet â€Å"Romeo is banished, and all the world to nothing that he dares ne’er come back to challenge you. † Which is bad enough to hear that your husband won’t come back to claim you as his, but she can’t leave it alone. Next she tells Juliet â€Å"Your first is dead, or ’twere as good he were as living here and you no use of him. † This means she thinks Juliet should marry Paris because she won’t see Romeo again even though he is Juliet’s husband and true love. Shakespeare reveals Romeo’s love for Rosaline is really infatuation by the language Romeo uses. We can tell this because when he talks about her he uses oxymorons. Shakespeare used these oxymorons, â€Å"O’ brawling love, loving hate† â€Å"heavy lightness† â€Å"feather of lead† â€Å"bright smoke† â€Å"cold fire† â€Å"sick health† to show Romeos confusion about if he really loves Rosaline. Compared to when he talks about Juliet he talks in Sonnet form because Sonnets were used to traditionally used for expressing one’s love. Maybe Romeo just wanted Rosaline because he couldn’t have her and she didn’t want him. Benvolio and Mercutio have to try to talk Romeo out of this crush so they make him go to the Capulet party when he meets Juliet so it turns out to be a good thing. Shakespeare shows the love between Romeo and Juliet through their language. This includes sonnets, images and religious symbols that they use when they talk to each other. Shakespeare uses these features to show that Romeo and Juliet’s feelings are true love. Their love is short lived because throughout the play there becomes a lack of communication, when Romeo gets banished to Mantra so they both end up killing themselves. Sometimes they feel the same at the same time. This is shown when Romeo is banished because in Act 3 scene 2 Juliet is really upset and then in scene 3 Romeo is as upset as Juliet was in scene 2. Also Romeo wants to know if Juliet hates him because he killed her cousin and does she really want him round to spend their wedding night together? He then almost repeats what Juliet said about what’s in a name in act 2 scene 2, Romeo then goes crazy and threatens to cut his name out of himself with a dagger so that he and Juliet can be together happily. Paris’ love for Juliet is quite real. He really has feelings for Juliet and he is willing to put up a fight for her. When he is told that she is too young he replies â€Å"Younger than she are happy mothers made. † Paris is saying this as it is almost having a dig at Capulet because Lady Capulet would have been around Juliet’s age when she had Juliet. He also get quite excited when he hears that Juliet will marry him and when she turns up at Friar Lawrence’s cell he starts calling her â€Å"my lady and my wife† but Juliet won’t have any of it. She refuses to answer his questions and wishes to not really spend time with him as she knows that she isn’t going to marry him because she will do anything to get out of that marriage. This was due to the fact that Juliet was too modern to survive in a late medieval society as she did not want to be bound by the rules and did not like being told what she had to by everyone. She would have rather lived by her own rules and make her own decisions. The love shown through each character represents their personality and several people might have not wanted others to be happy in love or find their own love. This may have been forced into a marriage or are still alone but they resent others finding their own happiness.

Housing and Habitability Essay

Question 1: You are an environmental health inspector asked investigate problems at a local low-income and poorly main apartment complex. There is lead-based paint peeling from the walls, and mold growing on the walls. Living in a room that has lead-based paint peeling from the walls and mold growing on the walls has certain health complications. The two factors are considered to be the worst indoor air pollutants and its effect can be seen after repeated exposure or soon after exposure. Occupants of an apartment with such conditions are exposed to such risks whether children or old people. Lead-based paint peeling from the walls has a number of health complications to low income family members especially children (Stewart, 2001). Excessive exposure to lead can cause damage to nervous system and the brain making it hard for the victim to have good health. Other main health problems include high blood pressure, headaches, and muscle pain, difficulties during pregnancy and digestive problems. Control of lead-based paint from peeling off the walls is a major challenge for low income earning family living in a poorly maintained apartment. The following measures can be taken to control lead paint health problems;  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Cleaning up paint chips once they peel off.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Washing children’s hands more frequently and items they play with such as toys.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Planting grass to cover soil with high levels of lead  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Cleaning painted surfaces weekly and rinsing the cleaning tools thoroughly.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Keeping children from chewing painted surfaces Molds are other major health hazards as they are invisible organisms that grow on walls under suitable conditions such as light, water and air. Health problems associated with molds include breathing problems, asthma, and irritation of skin, eyes, sneezing, nausea, headache and fatigue. Control of molds requires the application of simple measures such as opening the windows to let fresh air flow inside the building (Strang, 2003). With enough sunlight and clean air, humidity inside the rooms is decreased hence eliminating growth of molds. Question 2: One of your goals is to protect the health of swimmers at a local recreational pool. Discuss two methods that have been used to treat swimming pool water, ozonation and chlorination. The health of swimmers is usually at risk as the water is in most cases contaminated. There are two commonly used methods to treat swimming pool water such as ozonation and chlorination. Any swimmer has high chances of contaminating swimming pool through sweat, urine, mucous, skin flaks or hair ointments. These contaminants can be treated through the use of ozonation which proves to be the most beneficial and advanced method of treating swimming pool water (Ball, 2006). Ozonation works by injecting ozone on the filter then coagulant is added. Once filtration is done chlorine product is added as a residual concentration. Once the chlorine mixes with ozone, the level of chlorine reduces making the process one of the best treatment method. The ozone reduces large molecules into small molecules which are easily decomposed by the filter. Ozonation has a number of benefits which include increase in the quality of swimming water as the level of chlorine is reduced. Another benefit is oxidization of organic and inorganic matter without formation of by-products and clearing away of chlorine scent which might have some health problems. Chlorination is another method used to treat swimming pool water whereby chlorine is used as a disinfectant.   Routine chlorination is used to kill harmful microorganisms which act as health threat. Chlorine reacts with organics and produces nitrogen trichloride and chloramines which are dangerous chemicals. As disinfectant, chlorine prevents the growth of bacteria or algae making the swimming pool water safe. Ozonation is the best method of treating swimming pool water compared to chlorination. Ozone is used as a purification agent while chlorine is used as a disinfectant (Goldstein, Martin, 2002). This means that there are no harmful by products produced through ozonation while chlorine produces dangerous chemicals which are harmful to swimmers.

Langston Hughes: 3 Poems Essay

Expression of racial pride is a concept that has surfaced through history quite often. Due to the nature of colonialism, slavery and it effects, the idea of racial pride under pressure, with people creating their own racial identity within a different cultural setting, is often one of alienation and loneliness. During the critical eras such as the Harlem Renaissance and the Civil Rights Movement, we find the work and effort of many of the great African-American writers like Langston Hughes, whose work often covered the topics of racial pride and the outcry against racism and injustice. We will look at three of his poems which reflect a different aspect of the historical African-American situation. ‘Theme for English B’ This is a poem that explores the time when Langston Hughes was in college, and had to write about anything that came from the heart. In true style, searching in his soul, the poet finds an expression that reflects circumstances and perceptions that focus on the self, and existence as an African-American. Hughes runs through such normal activities such as going home and listing what he likes and what he wants. He raises an interesting crux then: I guess being colored doesn’t make me not like the same thing other folks like who are other races. So will my page be colored that I write? Being me, it will not be white. But it will be a part of you, instructor. You are white – (25-31) This is an interesting statement in that it draws the distinction between being white and being colored, a persistent issue that crops up often in racially oriented writing. It reflects on the instructor of the class being white and ‘instructing’ a colored man. Although there is no real evidence to support a cause for resistance or defiance to this, the fact remains implied that Hughes makes this distinction, but without promoting resentment, states that he likes what â€Å"other folks like who are other races† (26). The lines that follow reserves the right to have pride in being colored, without submitting to wanting to be what like other races. Hughes cements this notion in lines 32-38, stating a communal, patriotic element of cooperation: yet a part of me, as I am a part of you. That’s American. Sometimes perhaps you don’t want to be part of me. Nor do I often want to be part of you. But we are, that’s true! As I learn from you, I guess you learn from me – ‘Afro-American Fragment’ This poem comes from a period of Hughes’ life that explored the idea of Africans displaced from the African continent. He effectively simulates a sense of longing by drawing from the idea of an unexplained feeling, of songs that come from far away. He advances the idea that Africa leaves its imprint even long after the people have been moved from there, cementing the echo thereof with three lines (1-3, 21-23): So long. So far away Is Africa. Another interesting thing that he recalls here is the last line, 24, that expresses his connection or kinship with Africa, even after all the time separated: â€Å"Dark face.† Hughes promotes the idea here that, although the African-Americans find themselves becoming culturally part of American society – in some form or another, the call of Africa had imprinted itself on all the African-Americans who could trace their history to the dark continent, leaving an permanent effect. â€Å"Democracy† With this poem we find Hughes focusing on the essence of democracy, of the system that is supposed to uphold the freedom and individual rights of every human being, irrespective of skin color. This poem draws strongly on the period of American history demarcated by the Civil Rights Movement, and Hughes is quite firm in his sympathetic beliefs here, stating rights equal to that of any other human being. This is expressed most clearly in lines 5-9: I have as much right As the other fellow has To stand On my two feet And own the land. The essence of land can be compared to the idea of African-Americans having been displaced, taken from their past and their homes. Equal rights would entail that African-Americans would also be able to own land in America and thus become part of American society – be part of the collective whole, just as every other American is, regardless of skin color or race. The urge to compel their rights, and the struggle that would invariably be necessary, is encapsulated in lines 15-18: Freedom Is a strong seed Planted In a great need. Hughes furthers and finalizes the argument of equality, the demand to be heard and accepted, as well as the need for individual freedom not based on race through lines 19-21: I live here, too I want freedom Just as you. In closing The contributions made by Langston Hughes, not only in poetry but also in other forms of writing, have become a written testament to the troubling times that African-Americans underwent before they finally secured the equal rights they sought so hard to achieve. Hughes reflects every facet of growing up and living as an African-American in a marginalized, mostly white environment. The poems discussed show Hughes’ pride in his race, and his refusal to submit and be subverted. Where there is a fairly everyday feel to ‘Theme for English B’, we find a core focus that explains unity, rather than forcing division by showing that white and black Americans are so very different. In ‘Afro-American Fragment,’ Hughes explored the unconscious aspects that shape the longing of African-Americans, the yearning back to Africa, and in ‘Democracy’ we return again, with a little more force and directness, to the issue of equality and integration. It should be argued though, as Hughes was wont to point out, that this integration would not be accomplished through subversion, but on terms that make space for the African-American, or any other race to thrive and flourish in a unified, collective whole, without prejudice or injustice.

Single Sex Schools

Single Sex Schools In the present era, many of us have heard people, especially parents, discussing different topics concerning their children’s future. What are good things for them and what are not? One of these subjects is which school do you prefer to send your children to, single sex schools or co-ed schools? The answers are different depending on many reasons that support each person’s opinion, but for me I support schooling at single sex schools for the following reasons. First, at single sex schools there are fewer distractions for both boys and girls which lead to increased improvement in grade and test scores thus leading to superior academic achievement. On the contrary, at co-ed schools more fragmentation of attention which reduces the improvement of the education. Second, the students at single sex school have higher educational aspirations, more confidence in their abilities, and more positive attitude toward academics than students have at co-ed schools. Finally, single sex education protects the students from immorality and temptation. As a result, this arrangement will reduce the number of teen pregnancy and the number of students with sexually transmitted diseases that increases at co-education. The only drawback that makes many of the people (parents) not prefer education at these separated schools is the idea that students from single sex schools are more hesitant expressing their views in front of the opposite sex, and they have more trouble forming friendships with the opposite sex as well, but for me that’s not true. I believe they can interact in many different places such as their neighborhoods and other public areas. So let us leave the schools for studying only. In conclusion, I recommend replacing all middle and high schools to single sex schools. Why? Because the game of who likes who, who’s going out with whom, and who’s cool and who’s not, begin in these ages. So to broaden the student’s horizons, to allow them to feel free to explore their own strengths and interests and to create a successful generation I’d say yes to single sex schools. Single Sex Schools Single Sex Schools In the present era, many of us have heard people, especially parents, discussing different topics concerning their children’s future. What are good things for them and what are not? One of these subjects is which school do you prefer to send your children to, single sex schools or co-ed schools? The answers are different depending on many reasons that support each person’s opinion, but for me I support schooling at single sex schools for the following reasons. First, at single sex schools there are fewer distractions for both boys and girls which lead to increased improvement in grade and test scores thus leading to superior academic achievement. On the contrary, at co-ed schools more fragmentation of attention which reduces the improvement of the education. Second, the students at single sex school have higher educational aspirations, more confidence in their abilities, and more positive attitude toward academics than students have at co-ed schools. Finally, single sex education protects the students from immorality and temptation. As a result, this arrangement will reduce the number of teen pregnancy and the number of students with sexually transmitted diseases that increases at co-education. The only drawback that makes many of the people (parents) not prefer education at these separated schools is the idea that students from single sex schools are more hesitant expressing their views in front of the opposite sex, and they have more trouble forming friendships with the opposite sex as well, but for me that’s not true. I believe they can interact in many different places such as their neighborhoods and other public areas. So let us leave the schools for studying only. In conclusion, I recommend replacing all middle and high schools to single sex schools. Why? Because the game of who likes who, who’s going out with whom, and who’s cool and who’s not, begin in these ages. So to broaden the student’s horizons, to allow them to feel free to explore their own strengths and interests and to create a successful generation I’d say yes to single sex schools.

Attributes of a Organized Crime Group Essay

While many Americans are familiar with groups such as Al-Qaida, they are less knowledgeable about a group spreading terror within the United States inner cites. This group is the Mara Salvatrucha, also known as MS-13. This essay will focus on the history, structure, operation, activities and participants of the group known as MS-13. The focus will also include the group’s involvement in the drug trade and law enforcement efforts to thwart the group’s activities. As the group gains strength in numbers and with knowledge, it becomes increasingly more dangerous for anyone to encounter them. During the early 1980’s, a civil war took place in El Salvador. The war lasted over 12 years and resulted in approximately 100,000 casualties (Valdez, 2000). The war caused fear among the citizens in El Salvador and as a result, over one million people fled to the United States. El Salvador refuges began to settle in Southern California and Washington D.C., with the largest initial group settling in Los Angeles. When the first group of El Salvadorians refuges settled in the Rampart area of Los Angeles, they were met with opposition. The Mexican residents did not welcome them and they became targets of local gang violence (known Gangs, n.d.). As a result, a group of refugees created a new gang to protect themselves. This gang became known as Mara Salvatrucha. The name is believed to have been derived from combining the word â€Å"Mara,† which is the Spanish word for â€Å"army ant,† with the word â€Å"Salvatrucha,† which is slang for Salvadorian (Wikipedia, n.d.) When Mara Salvatrucha initially formed, their goal was to protect themselves from other Los Angeles gangs. Many initial members of Mara Salvatrucha had connections with a violent street gang from El Salvador, called La Mara. Several others previously belonged to paramilitary groups. One such group, Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMNL), was comprised of Salvadorians trained in guerilla warfare. Many in this group were knowledgeable in the use of explosives, booby traps and other firearms (Valdez, 2000). Soon after organizing, Mara Salvatrucha gained a reputation for being greatly organized and became known for extreme violence and criminal activity (Valdez, 2000). Today, this gang is known as one of the most violent gangs in existence. This group adopted the letter â€Å"M† as their symbol or gang sign. Members display this symbol by pointing three fingers downward. Mara Salvatrucha also identifies with the number 13, which is their way of paying homage to the prison gang, the Mexican Mafia (Know Gangs, n.d.). In addition, Mara Salvatrucha members also use the term â€Å"sureno† as a form of identification. The term â€Å"sureno† means â€Å"southerner† and is often abbreviated as â€Å"SUR† (Valdez, 2000). Mara Salvatrucha members are usually heavily tattooed with these symbols. Since there are other gangs using some of these symbols, Mara Salvatrucha members may be hard to identify. This gang will use ‘M† or â€Å"MS† in addition to the number 13 or â€Å"Sureno† (Valdez, 2000). Today, Mara Salvatrucha has many associate gangs, or cliques. At times, other tattoos may include the name of an associate gang or clique (Valdez, 2000). Upon initial organization of the gang, many members were arrested and deported. Initially, the deportees were sent to the Guezaltepeque Prison in El  Salvador. While in prison, deportees recruited members, which extended Mara Salvatrucha into prison gangs. As a result, this gang began to grow in the streets of El Salvador as well as the United States (Know Gangs, n.d.). When Mara Salvatrucha was first organized the members were of El Salvadorian descent. Today, the group participates in many criminal activities which include other gangs. Therefore, Mara Salvatrucha has now allowed other racial groups to join their organization. Today, Mara Salvatrucha includes members from Guatemal4 Honduras and Mexico. Mara Salvatrucha also has a small number of Black members (Valdez, 2000). Mara Salvatrucha is becoming a big problem for law enforcement. They are involved in many criminal activities and a number of high level criminal enterprises (Valdez, 2000). Some of their criminal activities include car theft, carjacking, sexual assaults, robbery, home invasion, weapons smuggling, car jacking, murder, illegal firearm sales and drug trafficking. Mara Salvatrucha commonly traffic cocaine, marijuana, heroin and methamphetamine. Additionally, Mara Salvatrucha members initiated a tax payment for all non-member drug dealers and prostitutes who â€Å"work† on their turf. These non-members must pay the tax or face consequences of guaranteed violence (Valdez, 2000). Structure â€Å"Mara Salvatrucha is a loosely structured street gang. There is no single leader of governing authority directing the daily activity of all Mara Salvatrucha cliques† (U.S. Department of Justice, 2002). The Los Angeles-based clique is the most prominent clique of this gang throughout  the country. The cliques’ throughout the country usually follow the Los Angeles clique. For example, when the Los Angeles-based clique designates another street gang as an enemy (The 18ft street Gang) or forms an alliance with another street gang (The Mexican Mafia) the other cliques throughout the country often follow suit. â€Å"The members of Mara Salvatrucha in Los Angeles, New York city and Washington D.C./Northern Virginia maintain strong ties with one another. This is often done through family relationships and friendships, and increasingly are meeting to coordinate and conduct criminal activity† (U.S. Department of Justice, 2002). â€Å"Mara Salvatrucha cliques in Los Angeles often have established internal organizations with designated leaders. Several Los Angeles cliques have adopted a military-type organizational structure, appointing captains, lieutenants, and soldiers† (U.S. Department of Justice, 2002). The cliques that are based outside of Los Angeles tend to not appoint official leaders. There are few assigned roles for the members of these cliques. The senior members of such cliques lead meetings and plan the criminal activities of the cliques. The senior members are usually entrusted with the treasury aspects of the cliques as well. â€Å"Despite all its acts of violence, what may be most alarming about the MS-13 gang is its increasing organization and structure that many leading experts are comparing to criminal factions of the 1950s such as the Mafia and Hell’s Angels,’ (Logan and Morse, 2007). In 2004 the National Drug Intelligence Center stated that the gang â€Å"may be increasing its coordination with MS-13 chapters in Los Angeles, Washington D.C./Northern Virginia and New York City, possibly signaling an attempt to build a national command structure† (Logan and Morse, 2002). Law enforcement has questioned the organized, national leadership structure of the MS-13. There is thought by law enforcement that MS-13 members of various cliques might â€Å"simply engage in networking.† Operation In order to join or to be introduced into the gang, one must under go a ceremony of being â€Å"jumped in.† In Washington D.C. a young boy of the tender age of 1l sought after membership because some kids from a local school kept beating him up, in order for those beatings to come to a stop he would have to undergo one more beating and that would be from his â€Å"friends† in the gang- As the 11 year old child was placed in the circle of gang members, the five strongest of the group entered the arena made up of humans. And as the members proceeded to count slowly to 13, the child was kicked and beaten over and over until he finally lay motionless on the ground. If this had been a girl, the ceremony would have not only included her being beaten, but also being gang raped by six members of this group. (et, al 1998) This of course is to prove your worth and loyalty and of course this is only the beginning of the process of initiation into this gang. In regards to MS- I 3 you must also prove yourself, by committing a violent act against someone else, and according to what they have written you can accomplish this act in three different ways; beating, raping, or murdering someone. (et, al 1998) Once in Mara Salvatrucha you are in for life. There have been numerous occasions where a member of the gang has wanted to leave and when this happens the gang members have permission to kill, maim or commit whatever act they choose on that member whose intentions are to leave the gang. Another defining characteristic attribute ofMS-l3 is their absolute intolerance for any person who has the inclination of going to the police and informing them of any activity that the gang is in or has been involved in. One unfortunate individual had his hands completely removed and then was shot in the head. (et, al 1998) One, tell tell sign that an individual is in the lustrous gang is the  numerous tattoos that are all over the body, even on the face. Most common are the numbers 1 and 3, or text MS, and even l8 tattooed on any part of their body. Symbols also represent the gang and those consists of crossbones’, daggers, and dice. Most importantly the symbol will represent what that particular individual brings to the cell or group; i.e. if a individual has a grenade on part of his body he/she is known for weapons or explosives in some fashion or form. (et, al 1998), (Valdez 2000) Activities and Participants The Mara, or MS-l3 gang members, are large in number. Like al-Qaid4 they operate loose, autonomous cells that form a broad transnational network (cells are groups of at least 20 members). The individual cells are very sophisticated. Some are devoted to intelligence gathering, propaganda, recruitment and logistics as well as their more common activities of drug trafficking, extortion, prostitution, and murder (Elkus, 2007). Specifically, MS members are engaged in retail drug trafficking, primarily trafficking in powdered cocaine, crack cocaine, and marijuana, and to a lesser extent, in methamphetamine and heroin. The drug proceeds are then laundered through seemingly legitimate businesses in the communities (FBI, 2005). ln the cities or other areas under MS control, members have managed to create zones of autonomy where they provide a system of patronage and protection to the people in exchange for allegiance and tribute. Mara Salvatrucha is considered the fastest growing, most violent and least understood of the nation’s street gangs. There are believed to be an estimated 10,000 members across 33 states in the United States (Campo-Flores, 2007). This is possibly due in part to the nation’s focus on the war against terrorism post 9/11. Focus on gang and gang activity was reduced and resources were aimed elsewhere in most law enforcement agencies, specifically at the federal level. That has since changed. In December of2004 a multi-agency MS-13 National Gang Task Force was created with focus on the dismantling of MS- I 3 (FBI, 2005). This was done because of the violence exhibited by MS-13 and based on the historical precedent of other similar gangs and organized criminal organizations. According to  intelligence gathered by the FBI, MS-13 still appears to be a loosely structured street gang; however, its threat is based on its violence and its potential to grow, not only geographically, but in its organization and sophistication. As mentioned earlier, these gang members affiliate themselves into groups known as cliques. Each clique will have a local leader called the â€Å"shot caller† and according to the FBI, there is no evidence to support the existence of a single leader or governing authority which is directing the daily activity of all MS-13 cliques. There is some evidence, however, of an increased level of sophistication and some indications of a hierarchy of leadership (FBI, 2005). The National Gang Task Force continues to gather information make arrests of known MS-13 members and continues to develop strategies to control this group. Law Enforcement Efforts According to Valdez, MS gang members have no trepidation towards law enforcement. They act mostly defiant and are not easily persuaded once they have a goal in mind. The Mara Salvatrucha group is responsible for the deaths of three federal agents and of many more shootings of police officers across the country. (Valdez, 2000) What the police and the courts have used to deter criminal activity from this particular group is arrest/incarceration and deportation. â€Å"From April 1994 thru August 1995, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) detained and deported over 100 MS members to El Salvador.† (Valdez, 2000) A good number of the Mara Salvatrucha group are here in the United States illegally, and are apprehensive in regards to this particular matter. In the event they do get deported their families will be unprotected and by transporting the gang members back to El Salvador they are at risk for losing their lives by the Sombra Negra (Black Shadow) death squad. The Sombra Negra is a group made up of miscreant police and military personnel whose intention is to do away with unwanted criminals’ and gang members for vigilante ‘Justice.† (Valdez, 2000) References Campo-Flores, A. (2007). The Most Dangerous Gang in America: Inside the battle to police Mara Salvatrucha. _Newsweek_ March 28, 2007. Elkus, A. (2007). _Foreign Policy in Focus: Gangs, Terrorists, and Trade._ April12, 2007 Retrieved February 2, 2008 from http://www.fuif.ore/fpiftxt/4144 FBI. (2005). Federal Bureau of Investigation-Press Room-Headline Archives. Retrieved January 28, 2008 from http://www.fbi.gov/paee2ljuly05/ms/07 1 305.htm Know Gangs.Com. (n.d.). Mara Salvatrucha MS-13. Retrieved January 28, 2008 from www.knowganes.con/eang resources/profiles/ms13 MS-13 (Mara Salvatrucha 13). Retrieved January 28, 2008, from Altered Dimisions Web site: http://www.altereddimensions.net/crime/MS13Gang.htm Valdez, Al. (2000). Mara Salvatrucha Street Gang (Al Queda’s Friends). Retrieved January 28, 2008 from: www.freereoublic.com/focus/f-news Valdez, Al. (2000). Mara Salvatrucha ‘A South American Import’. Retrieved January 28, 2008, from: National Alliance of Gang Investigators’ Associations Web site: http://www.nagia.ore/Gang-Related%2OAfiicles.htm Wikipedia (n.d.). Mara Salvatrucha. Retrieved January 28, 2008 from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mara_Salvatrucha